The map and elevation profile above detail the route we used from highway 108 at Leavitt Meadows to Twin Lakes. Total trip distance exceeded 60 miles over eight days and included over 13,000 feet of climbing. On the last day, by sheer chance, many of the GPS satellites were near the horizon as we hiked out. We were hiking out in a steep canyon and the GPS unfortunately lost signal and therefore straightened out the trail as can be seen in the elevation data right near the end. The smaller map above is to give you an idea of the scale. You can see the size of our route compared to say, Lake Tahoe which is 71 miles in circumference, or compare it to the size of the Bay Area or Mono Lake.

We had wanted to take this route for several years, but various things conspired to prevent an earlier attempt. As I will mention later, the paper and computer maps of the area show 42 stream crossings on this route. We crossed many more than that as smaller runoff channels are not shown on the maps. The red pins represent more significant water crossings and the yellow dots (circles) show our intended camp spots. Yellow pins are optional camp spots, should we be too tired to reach or unsatisfied with the intended spot.

You'll note some yellow lines and distance measurements stacked on top of each other in the lower left hand corner of the big map. Since we intended to spur off the PCT (Pacific Crest Trail) and head up to Tilden Lake, I did not want to walk all the way down that U to the proper trail connection. I noticed that the two trails got within 532 feet of each other at the closest point. The map analysis was done to determine several alternate spots where we could attempt to safely cross country connect to the other trail and save ourselves nearly a mile of extra hiking and additional elevation loss/gain. This kind of connection is often difficult as map topo lines don't tell you much about how abrupt changes can be on the small scale. Apparently gradual terrain changes can in fact be abrupt impenetrable granite walls. In addition, the trails marked on the computer's map are nearly always in the wrong spot. The trails are often off by 300 to more that 500 feet - which is ridiculously far in our typical type of terrain. Finally, depending on which point we decided to cross, we either had to cross one or two streams. Areas with channelized fast moving water or waterfalls are too dangerous to attempt. I therefore marked several optional spots to investigate with the fall back option of hiking the entire U should all of these areas be to dangerous or impassible.

Note: Going off major trails can be very dangerous. Inexperienced hikers should never even consider it. If you've ever read hundreds of accounts of hiker deaths (as we have), the first thing you'll notice is the repeated pattern in the reports. Most descriptions start like this "and then because John was tired he decided to take a shortcut and left the main trail..." Although inexperienced hikers find all kinds of creative ways to kill themselves every year, this is by far the most common.

Finally, by now everyone knows Jay Jackson (our Gnome) that appears in trip photos he fails to attend. I have inserted his facein just six of the 139 photos that follow. Can you find them all? It won't be easy, but I think some super where's Waldo person will find them all.

Stay on the path and keep your mind as pure as the water. Enjoy the photos...